One More Smithsonian

Christmas Gaiety in the National Gallery, Washington, DC

SMITHSONIAN

For the last week we have been darting around the various Smithsonian museums on the National Mall catching up with our Nation’s past. At the National Gallery a temporary exhibit presenting various portraits of Abraham Lincoln is open (did you know that he had blue eyes?).

Abraham Lincoln in one of his more jovial moods

After that, we strolled over to the Smithsonian’s, National Museum of American History, and gazed upon Dorothy Gale's Ruby Slippers—Wizard of Oz!

"There's no place like home."

But before all of that took place we visited DC's Chinatown, and dined on some fine Chinese cuisine at our favorite Chinese restaurant. The adventuresome Daisy had a bowl of fried dumplings, but I could not decide whether to have the $9.95 platter of "Soya Sauce Intestines"—presumably pig—or the $12.95 "Pig's Belly with Preserved Mustard Green." I settled for pig belly's delight! Daisy was absolutely appalled by the idea of eating slimy pig gut, but I knew better!

Now I know that you are all salivating in anticipation of my detailed description of Pig's Belly happy, happy, joy, joy, so without further delay, let us indulge! When our waitress brought me my dinner I have to admit that my eyes widened, and my mouth dropped. It was not the side bowl of rice that caused this reaction, but the sight of a brown soupy glop of fried blubber!

No comment...

It was essentially a bowl of thick sliced bacon with a hint of meat, not exactly chew food. All one had to do was to delicately vacuum it off of your chopsticks (I used a fork), and down your gullet it slid. It was liposuction without the all the jabbing! However, I did experience a protracted period of gastrointestinal recovery. I have to tell you that it really was quite a tasty treat. I am sure that my arteries will be happy to pack it away for a future bypass or heart attack.

I have to tell you, that that was a moment of immoderation that I shall not soon repeat.

EPILOGUE

This has absolutely nothing to do with the above story, and the fate of its characters; it does, however, deal with the demise of an institution. I just learned that Olympia, Hamms, and that infamous Brown Label beer, are no longer brewed in Tumwater, Washington.

It was every guzzler of cheap beers dream (myself EX-cluded) to make the pilgrimage to Tumwater at least once in their lifetime. But now one must journey across the Bible Belt to experience the Olyland. Yes, it is now brewed in Texas! Geeeaaaaaaaaaaaaawd! I suppose Long Star beer makes the grade to be included as a classic, sub-standard brew. So I suppose that Oly is now in good company.

Museums

I know that you cannot judge the enormity of this museum's front entrance by this picture, but I assure you, it is truly impressive! Those doorways are a good 12 feet high.


1831 John Bull (and wife)

This is the Little Engine That Could, and did get inside the Museum of American History. That is a life-size replica of a horse to the left.

The early Americans revered George Washington to an extreme.

The Greensboro's Lunch Counter--go look it up.

There were hundreds of people in the museum walking around Sleeping Beauty, and yet he snored on, oblivious to his surroundings.

An egg about to be scrambled...

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